( -103 )of llie vanquished party to submit to that of thevictorious, was over, the combatants were led 5)forth, amidst the encouragements, the prayers,and the shouts of their country. They were re-minded of their former achievements, they wereadmonished, that their fathers, their countrymenand even the gods, were spectators of their be-haviour. When the people expected to see themrush to combat, they quitted their arms, andembraced cach other with all the marks of themost tender friendship; but, at length, warnedwist the importance of the trial, the championsengaged, and each, totally regardless of his ownsafety, sought only the destruction of his opponent.The spectators, in horrid silence, trembled at everyblow, and wished to share the danger, till atlength victory, which had hitherto been doubtful,appeared to declare against the Romans; they be-held 6) two of their champions lying dead uponthe plain, and the three Curiatii, being allwounded, slowly endeavouring to pursue thesurvivor, who seemed by flight to beg far mercy.The Alban array, unable to suppress their joy,raised a loud acclamation, while the Romansinwardly cursed and repined et the cowardice ofhim whom they saw 7) in circumstances of suchbaseness. Soon however they began to alter theirsentiments, when they perceived that his flightwas only pretended, in order to separate his an-tagonists, whom he was unable to oppose united;for quickly after stopping his course, and turn-ing upiin him who followed most closely behind,he laid him dead at his feet. The second brother,advancing to assist him who was fallen, soonshared the same fate^ and now there remainedbut the last Curiatius to conquer, who, fatiguedand quite disabled with his wounds, slowly cameup to offer an easy victory. He was killed, al-most unresisting, while the conqueror exulting,offered him as a victim to the superiority of the